The National Park Service has released a Cultural Landscape Report and Environmental Assessment for improvements to Theodore Roosevelt Island. The scope of the project includes changes to Bridge 31, which trail users commonly refer to as Trollheim Bridge due to the number of crashes and injuries that have occurred on its slippery surface.

NPS has proposed four alternatives. All four alternatives include widening the bridge to 12 or 14 feet and replacing the bridge decking to provide a more even surface with.

More information on the project can be found here. The four proposed alternatives can viewed starting on page 268 of the Environmental Assessment. Stay tuned for additional opportunities to provide public comment on which of the four alternatives you prefer.

Light Giveaway – The Friends of the Mt. Vernon Trail will help our friends at Bike Arlington hand out blinkies, reflective bands and information to trail users on Monday, November 5th from 4:30 to 7:00 PM at the Rosslyn Bikeometer. You don’t have to be there the whole time. Even half an hour handing out goodies and cheering on trail users will be helpful. Let us know you’re coming by signing up here: https://doodle.com/poll/tqfi8mwu5t5u9b4e

Tour de Mt. Vernon Support – We’ll be helping our friends at the Fairfax Alliance for Better Bicycling (FABB) by providing volunteer support for the 3rd Annual Tour de Mount Vernon on Saturday, November 17th. Multiple opportunities are available including course marshaling if you don’t want to miss the ride. Sign up to volunteer here. You’ll have to take a few minutes to create an account before signing up. Once you’ve signed up send an e-mail to mtvernontrail@gmail.com so we know you’re coming.

You may have noticed some construction work happening at Gravelly Point this week next to the portapotties. Arlington County is constructing a concrete pad for a Capital Bikeshare station to be installed. This is the second CaBi station installed on the Mt. Vernon Trail this year. Please show some additional caution on the trail during construction and installation activities.

The National Park Service is currently rehabilitating the Memorial Bridge which will last until 2021. The south sidewalk is currently closed to pedestrians and cyclists. There is a detour that requires crossing busy roadways multiple times.